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Belgium to Switzerland for Carnival, February 2024

Three weeks in continental Europe is the second part of my winter escape from the wilds of Montana, the first part being the Canary Island and Cabo Verde. They parts seem sufficiently different to separate into two blogs. Europe north of the Alps is not the greatest place to go in February. However, it is also Carnival season, and you can’t experience that in summer. Carnival is, of course, the days leading up to Lent, the period of fasting in Catholic tradition in the weeks before Easter. It Catholic countries it’s the biggest party of the year, also known as Mardi Gras to Americans because of the one that takes place in New Orleans. In 2019 I went to Carnival in Cologne, Germany, supposedly the single biggest one in Europe. I had a blast. However, being of Flemish ancestry, I’ve long wanted to go to the biggest one in Flanders. It takes place in an industrial city in East Flanders province named Aalst, and is supposedly especially rowdy. Carnival, of course, takes place everywhere at the same time of year, but there is an exception. The carnival in Basel, Switzerland takes place about a week later. Basel adopted Protestantism after the Reformation, so its traditions are not confined by Catholic doctrine. Called Fasnacht, Basel’s carnival is especially heavy on pagan traditions. The map of my itinerary with focus on Belgium and Switzerland looks a bit like that of my 2018 summer trip to Europe that focused on those two countries. My plan is to spend some time in and around Brussels and neighboring spots in Belgium I did not cover to my heart’s desire in 2018 in the days before Aalst carnival. I am then making stops in Strasbourg, France and Freiburg, Germany en route to Basel Fasnacht. My last few days before returning home will be in Zurich.
Planned Dates
2024-02-04 to 2024-02-26
Countries
4
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